The Nymphaeum of Villa Litta

In Lainate, a municipality in the metropolitan area of Milan, with 26,000 inhabitants, is the Villa Visconti Borromeo Litta, a historic and wonderful building dating back to the 16th century, often known only as Villa Litta and associated with its most crystalline jewel: the Nymphaeum. Designed by Pirro I dei Visconti Borromeo, it embodies the stereotype of a place of delights, the most spectacular part of which is represented by the Nymphaeum. The Nymphaeum is a very particular architectural complex that had the function of hosting the count's extraordinary artistic collection. Also known as the 'cool building', it is made up of a continuous succession of rooms decorated with mosaics and artificial caves. The main element of the Nymphaeum is the water present everywhere in the form of fountains, daring hydraulic works and above all spectacular and amusing water games that were to amaze the guests. Destination of illustrious visitors, we remember one for all Stendhal. Many works refer to Roman classicism but there is no lack of allegorical and grotesque works, travertine is widely used. The Nymphaeum was reopened to visitors, after a long period of neglect and oblivion only in 1990, it takes about 90 minutes to visit and the entrance ticket costs € 10, all deserved.